Part IX: A Global War (Jan. 1942 - Mar. 1942)
Chapter 17: A Battle Joined
January of 1942 saw significant changes to the composition of both the Axis and Allied powers. On January 3rd, Germany declared war on Denmark and Norway. Denmark was in an exposed and hopeless position, and the Imperial General Staff concluded that intervention could not save the small country and would only divert resources from other theatres of operation. As such, the Danes were unfortunately left to their fate. Copenhagen was in enemy hands by the 7th, and although resistance in Aarhus continued until early February, Denmark was annexed by Germany on February 14th. However, the losses the Kriegsmarine suffered in the first days of the war now came back to haunt them, as they lacked the ability to launch an amphibious invasion of Norway, especially as the Home Fleet patrolled the North Sea looking for any German activity. As a result, Norway was spared the immediate consequences of war.
A far more important development occurred in the Far East when Japan, apparently confident after their recent victory over the Soviet Union, declared war on the United States on January 13th. The rest of the Allies, including the British Empire, immediately joined the United States in their war against Japan. It was quickly concluded that attempting to hold Hong Kong would be a difficult task, and despite the fact that no attack on Hong Kong developed in the immediate aftermath of the declarations of war, the ships of the China Station left port and sailed to Singapore. En route, however, they stumbled across a small Japanese task force of two transport flotillas escorted by a destroyer flotilla. Believed to be carrying invasion troops, possibly for the Philippines, the Royal Navy promptly sank the two transport flotillas, severely damaged the destroyer flotilla, and escaped to Singapore before any heavier warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy could intervene. Meanwhile, the 4th Submarine Flotilla, consisting of ten submarines and commanded by Rear-Admiral Bethel, remained stationed at Hong Kong and began to intercept Japanese convoys just south of Formosa. Meanwhile, the garrison troops at Singapore were brought up to full strength, and Singapore Command was reinforced by the 18th Infantry (E) Division on January 24th. British troops in Burma remained vigilent, but little action was expected in the immediate future as Japan had been pushed back from the Burmese border several years earlier by China.
In those first months of the war, Hong Kong and Malaya were not subjected to Japanese attacks, mainly because of events in the central Pacific. The Japanese had vastly underestimated the strength of the United States, as for the past few years the United States had built up an immense military arsenal that included the most advanced weaponry and tactics. After initial posturing by both sides, the United States launched a bold invasion of the Bonin Islands. The initial landings were barely opposed at all, and Japanese efforts to isolate and recapture the islands after their fall were ineffective. Though the Japanese fleet remained strong, they had been out-manoeuvred in the first weeks of the war. The fall of the Bonin Islands was to have decisive consequences, as long-range American strategic bombers soon began to attack the Home Islands. Though the Americans lost numerous aircraft to the effective Japanese air defences, which included several excellent fighter groups, the sheer numbers of American bombers ensured that some raids did reach their targets, causing significant damage to Japanese industry. In March, the rest of the Marianas Islands fell to the Americans, while the Japanese attempted to capture Guam. Although they were able to get ashore, the Japanese on Guam were quickly cut off from resupply and reinforcement, and after a brutal month-long battle, the Japanese on the island were eradicated. Meanwhile, Australian forces liberated the western portion of Timor, which had been occupied by Japanese forces for several years, and went on the offensive in New Guinea. Here, though, the Japanese were able to score several local victories, and were able to counterattack into Australian New Guinea. Overall, however, it quickly became apparent that the Japanese had been forced to divert much of their strength to fighting the earlier war against the Soviet Union, and as a result they were simply ill-prepared for the war against the United States.
Chapter 18: Reorganization and Preparation
The entry of the United States also had an impact in Europe. By the end of January, almost a dozen American strategic bomber groups were operating from British airfields against targets in Germany and occupied Western Europe. This forced the Luftwaffe to station a significant portion of its fighter groups in Germany to defend against these air raids. Though the American suffered losses, some raids did get through to their targets, and German industry was damaged. However, unlike Japan, Germany had a vast economy, especially after the defeat of the Soviet Union, and so was in a much better position to absorb the losses.
In the first three months of 1942, planning and preparations continued for the invasion of Spain, which was given the code name Operation Hedgerow. In January, four new armoured divisions were completed, each equipped with the new Cromwell tank. These divisions, along with four new mechanized divisions, were part of a significant reorganization of British mobile forces. The four new armoured divisions were split between 1st and 2nd Armoured Corps, while they each transferred one of their armoured divisions equipped with the older Crusader tanks to two new formations: 3rd and 4th Armoured Corps, each of which received two of the four new mechanized divisions. The 3rd Armoured Corps was assigned to stay in Italy as the mobile reserve and counteroffensive force in that theatre, while the 4th Armoured Corps, commanded by Lieutenant-General Dempsey, joined the 1st and 2nd Armoured Corps in Palma in preparation for the invasion of Spain. In Palma already were the 1st and 2nd Amphibious Corps, prepared to spearhead any amphibious assault. In Italy, Field Marshall Montgomery handed over command of 1st Corps to Lieutenant-General Leese, and himself assumed command of 3rd Armoured Corps. By the middle of March, six new motorized infantry divisions had been completed, and these were grouped into 9th and 10th Corps under Major-General McCreery and Major-General Crocker respectively. These two corps were also ferried to Palma for the invasion of Spain. At the same time, the one fighter group and three naval bomber groups of Malta Air Command were rebased to Palma and renamed Balearic Air Command, while the former Mediterranean Air Command was split in two: Italy Air Command, consisting of two fighter and two bomber groups under the command of Lieutenant-General Callishaw, remained stationed in Rome, while Iberia Air Command, consisting of two figher and three tactical bomber groups under the command of Lieutenant-General Portal, was relocated to Palma. By the end of March, British forces were in position to launch Operation Hedgerow.
At the same time, preparations continued for the inevitable day when the British army would have to face the Wehrmacht. 50mm+ light tank destroyers were introduced in February of 1942, while the techniques of paratroop warfare were further refined. As well, by March a further two armoured divisions, four mechanized divisions, six motorized divisions, and three airborne divisions (along with three air transport groups) were all under production. It was hoped that these reinforcements would help turn the tide in any offensive against German-occupied Europe. Finally, prototype tests were completed in March on the new improved multi-role fighters, and final plans were drawn up for the production of the Mosquito fighter. It was hoped that mass-production of the fighter could be undertaken in July of 1942. It had been hoped that it would be ready earlier, in order to help ensure RAF supremacy over the skies of Western Europe in case the Germans intervened in Spain, but it was decided that an immediate invasion of Spain, as opposed to delay, was still the best option.
Chapter 17: A Battle Joined
January of 1942 saw significant changes to the composition of both the Axis and Allied powers. On January 3rd, Germany declared war on Denmark and Norway. Denmark was in an exposed and hopeless position, and the Imperial General Staff concluded that intervention could not save the small country and would only divert resources from other theatres of operation. As such, the Danes were unfortunately left to their fate. Copenhagen was in enemy hands by the 7th, and although resistance in Aarhus continued until early February, Denmark was annexed by Germany on February 14th. However, the losses the Kriegsmarine suffered in the first days of the war now came back to haunt them, as they lacked the ability to launch an amphibious invasion of Norway, especially as the Home Fleet patrolled the North Sea looking for any German activity. As a result, Norway was spared the immediate consequences of war.
A far more important development occurred in the Far East when Japan, apparently confident after their recent victory over the Soviet Union, declared war on the United States on January 13th. The rest of the Allies, including the British Empire, immediately joined the United States in their war against Japan. It was quickly concluded that attempting to hold Hong Kong would be a difficult task, and despite the fact that no attack on Hong Kong developed in the immediate aftermath of the declarations of war, the ships of the China Station left port and sailed to Singapore. En route, however, they stumbled across a small Japanese task force of two transport flotillas escorted by a destroyer flotilla. Believed to be carrying invasion troops, possibly for the Philippines, the Royal Navy promptly sank the two transport flotillas, severely damaged the destroyer flotilla, and escaped to Singapore before any heavier warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy could intervene. Meanwhile, the 4th Submarine Flotilla, consisting of ten submarines and commanded by Rear-Admiral Bethel, remained stationed at Hong Kong and began to intercept Japanese convoys just south of Formosa. Meanwhile, the garrison troops at Singapore were brought up to full strength, and Singapore Command was reinforced by the 18th Infantry (E) Division on January 24th. British troops in Burma remained vigilent, but little action was expected in the immediate future as Japan had been pushed back from the Burmese border several years earlier by China.
In those first months of the war, Hong Kong and Malaya were not subjected to Japanese attacks, mainly because of events in the central Pacific. The Japanese had vastly underestimated the strength of the United States, as for the past few years the United States had built up an immense military arsenal that included the most advanced weaponry and tactics. After initial posturing by both sides, the United States launched a bold invasion of the Bonin Islands. The initial landings were barely opposed at all, and Japanese efforts to isolate and recapture the islands after their fall were ineffective. Though the Japanese fleet remained strong, they had been out-manoeuvred in the first weeks of the war. The fall of the Bonin Islands was to have decisive consequences, as long-range American strategic bombers soon began to attack the Home Islands. Though the Americans lost numerous aircraft to the effective Japanese air defences, which included several excellent fighter groups, the sheer numbers of American bombers ensured that some raids did reach their targets, causing significant damage to Japanese industry. In March, the rest of the Marianas Islands fell to the Americans, while the Japanese attempted to capture Guam. Although they were able to get ashore, the Japanese on Guam were quickly cut off from resupply and reinforcement, and after a brutal month-long battle, the Japanese on the island were eradicated. Meanwhile, Australian forces liberated the western portion of Timor, which had been occupied by Japanese forces for several years, and went on the offensive in New Guinea. Here, though, the Japanese were able to score several local victories, and were able to counterattack into Australian New Guinea. Overall, however, it quickly became apparent that the Japanese had been forced to divert much of their strength to fighting the earlier war against the Soviet Union, and as a result they were simply ill-prepared for the war against the United States.
Chapter 18: Reorganization and Preparation
The entry of the United States also had an impact in Europe. By the end of January, almost a dozen American strategic bomber groups were operating from British airfields against targets in Germany and occupied Western Europe. This forced the Luftwaffe to station a significant portion of its fighter groups in Germany to defend against these air raids. Though the American suffered losses, some raids did get through to their targets, and German industry was damaged. However, unlike Japan, Germany had a vast economy, especially after the defeat of the Soviet Union, and so was in a much better position to absorb the losses.
In the first three months of 1942, planning and preparations continued for the invasion of Spain, which was given the code name Operation Hedgerow. In January, four new armoured divisions were completed, each equipped with the new Cromwell tank. These divisions, along with four new mechanized divisions, were part of a significant reorganization of British mobile forces. The four new armoured divisions were split between 1st and 2nd Armoured Corps, while they each transferred one of their armoured divisions equipped with the older Crusader tanks to two new formations: 3rd and 4th Armoured Corps, each of which received two of the four new mechanized divisions. The 3rd Armoured Corps was assigned to stay in Italy as the mobile reserve and counteroffensive force in that theatre, while the 4th Armoured Corps, commanded by Lieutenant-General Dempsey, joined the 1st and 2nd Armoured Corps in Palma in preparation for the invasion of Spain. In Palma already were the 1st and 2nd Amphibious Corps, prepared to spearhead any amphibious assault. In Italy, Field Marshall Montgomery handed over command of 1st Corps to Lieutenant-General Leese, and himself assumed command of 3rd Armoured Corps. By the middle of March, six new motorized infantry divisions had been completed, and these were grouped into 9th and 10th Corps under Major-General McCreery and Major-General Crocker respectively. These two corps were also ferried to Palma for the invasion of Spain. At the same time, the one fighter group and three naval bomber groups of Malta Air Command were rebased to Palma and renamed Balearic Air Command, while the former Mediterranean Air Command was split in two: Italy Air Command, consisting of two fighter and two bomber groups under the command of Lieutenant-General Callishaw, remained stationed in Rome, while Iberia Air Command, consisting of two figher and three tactical bomber groups under the command of Lieutenant-General Portal, was relocated to Palma. By the end of March, British forces were in position to launch Operation Hedgerow.
At the same time, preparations continued for the inevitable day when the British army would have to face the Wehrmacht. 50mm+ light tank destroyers were introduced in February of 1942, while the techniques of paratroop warfare were further refined. As well, by March a further two armoured divisions, four mechanized divisions, six motorized divisions, and three airborne divisions (along with three air transport groups) were all under production. It was hoped that these reinforcements would help turn the tide in any offensive against German-occupied Europe. Finally, prototype tests were completed in March on the new improved multi-role fighters, and final plans were drawn up for the production of the Mosquito fighter. It was hoped that mass-production of the fighter could be undertaken in July of 1942. It had been hoped that it would be ready earlier, in order to help ensure RAF supremacy over the skies of Western Europe in case the Germans intervened in Spain, but it was decided that an immediate invasion of Spain, as opposed to delay, was still the best option.
